Two new species of venomous pit vipers have been hiding in plain sight in Nepal, their identities only now revealed by DNA extracted from museum specimens collected more than a century ago.
A century of mistaken identity
For decades, scientists believed that a single species of pit viper, Gloydius himalayanus, lived across the Himalayas from Pakistan to Myanmar. But a new study published in the journal Vertebrate Zoology has shattered that assumption. Researchers analyzed the DNA of preserved vipers stored in museums across Europe and discovered that what was once considered one species is actually three distinct ones.
The two newly identified species are Gloydius nepalensis, found in central and eastern Nepal, and Gloydius himalayanus, now restricted to western Nepal and northern India. The third species, Gloydius pakistanensis, lives in Pakistan and parts of India. The study was led by scientists from the Czech Republic, Germany, and Nepal.
How old museum specimens gave up their secrets
The team examined vipers collected as far back as the 19th century, some held in natural history museums in Germany, the Czech Republic, and other European institutions. By extracting and sequencing DNA from these preserved animals, the researchers could compare genetic differences that physical appearance alone had masked.
Pit vipers look very similar to one another, making it nearly impossible to tell them apart by sight alone. The genetic analysis revealed clear evolutionary splits that had gone unnoticed for generations. The study also used data from vipers collected more recently in the field across Nepal and India.
Why this matters for people living alongside vipers
For local communities in Nepal, this discovery is not just a scientific curiosity. Pit vipers are venomous, and their bites can be dangerous. Knowing exactly which species live in a given area helps doctors treat snakebite victims more effectively. Different species may have different venom compositions, and antivenom must be matched to the correct snake.
Nepal records thousands of snakebite cases each year, and many occur in rural farming communities where people work in fields and forests. Accurate species identification is a critical step toward better public health responses.
The study also highlights the value of museum collections. Specimens that sat untouched for more than a hundred years turned out to hold the genetic keys to understanding biodiversity that is still being discovered. The researchers noted that many more such revelations likely await in museum drawers around the world.
